Apparatus for ascertaining the level of liquids.



C. MAY. APPARATUS FOR ASGERTAINING THE LEVEL OF LIQUIDS.

APPI IOATIONI'ILED JULY 25, 1904.

PATENTED MAY 15, 1906.

cian, a subject of the Kin CHARLES MAY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR ASCE RTAINING THE LEVEL OF LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ma 15, 1906.

Application filed July 25. 1904. Serial Np. 218,161.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that 1, CHARLES MAY, electriof Great Britain, residing at 92 to 94 Pan street, Finsbury, London, En land, have invented certain new and useful In rovements in Apparatus for Ascertaining t e Level of Liquids, of which the following is a s ecification.

This invention re ates to a paratus for ascertaining the level of liqui s, and is especially ap licable for use on board ship to ascertain t e level of Water in the ballast-tanks and bilges. i

In each tank or compartment are fixed a number of contact-points at various heights, which may be a number of insulated rods descending to different levels. The contactpoints are connected by wires to a switchoard, there being a switchboard for every tank or compartment. Each switchboard is provided with a pivoted switch which is constructed to pass in rotation over the terminals of the wires; A lead from the pivoted switch is connected, throu h the secondary winding of an induction-coi ,to an indicator, either aural or visual, such as a telephone, and to earth. The primary winding of the induction-coil is connected to the two poles of a batter and in the circuit is a key for making or reaking the circuit. In lace of or as well as the key is a mercury-leve ,which when there is any movement of the ship makes and breaks the circuit, the level being preferably arranged that the circuit is only completed when the vessel is not at a greater angle than five degrees.

The drawing illustrates apparatus made in accordance with my invention.

'a is a tank containin liquid b, and a, a a and a are insulate rods descending to diflerent levels in the tank. Similarly, a is the section of a ship containing liquid din the bilge, and c, 0 c and c are insulated rods descending to different levels in the bilge. The rods 0, a a and a are connected to terminals e, e e and e of a switchboard e, and a pivoted switch f is free to pass over the terminals, and the rods 0, c c and c are connected to terminals g, g g and g of a switchboard g, having a pivoted switch h.

The switches and h are connected ,throu h the secondary winding of an induction-coil k, to. a telephone Z to earth. The primary winding 0 the induction-coil is connected to the two poles of a battery m, and in the circuit is a ey n and a mercury-level 0. In orother end of nected through the telephone to earth. This der to prevent accidental leakages in the primary producing sounds in the telephone, a sham; p, having in it a resistance q, is prov1 e To ascertain the de th of liquid, say in thep aces the telephone Z to tank a, the operator hisear, taps the key n, and moves the switch f over the terminals. By tapping the key a a current is sent through the primary of the induction-coil 7c; but no current asses through" the secondary until the swltch makes contact with the terminal corresp'on ing to the contact-point in the tank a which first comes into operation. The circuit is then completed from' 'one end of the secondary of the induction-coil to the contact in the tank, and so through the secondary being also concurrent flowing through the secondary causes the 'diaphragillrxil of. the telephone to be attracted, thus ma ga click. The operator then knows the depth of li uid by observing which terminal the switci is in conliquid to earth, the

tact with. When a mercury-level is used, the

ship must be given time to roll before the switch is moved from one contact to the other. The switchboards ma be placed in any' convenient positions an any number may be congregated together.

By using this a paratus no direct current is used in the tan c-wires and no electrolytic action takesplace in thetanks, which action has generally been the cause of failure of apparatus of this class for ascertaining the level of li uids.

at I claim is- "1. Apparatus for ascertaining liquids, consisting of a series 0 different levels, a corresponding series of terminals, each connected to one o the contacts, a switch free to move over the terminals, an indicator and an induction-coil, to the secondary winding of which is connected the switch and the indicator, the primary Windthe level of contacts at ing being in circuit with asource of electricity,

and means for opening and closing vthe circuit.

2. Apparatus for ascertaining the level of liquids, consisting of a series of contacts at different levels, a correspondin' series of terminals, each connected to one o the contacts, a switch free to move over the terminals, an indicator and an induction-coil, to the'secondary winding of which is connected the switch and the indicator, the primary windmeansfor opening'and c osing the circuit.

- 3. Apparatus for ascertaining the level of. liquids, consisting of a series of insulated rods of different lenths, a correspondin series of terminals, .eac connected to one 0 the rods, a switch free to move over the terminals, an indicator and an'induction-coil, to the secondary winding of which is connected the switch and the indicator, the primary winding being in circuit with a source of electricity, and meansfor opening and closing the circuit.

4. Apparatus for ascertaining the level of liquids, consisting of a series of insulated rods of diflerent'len ths: a correspondin series of-terminals, eaci connected to one 0%the rods, aswitch free to move over the terminals, an indicator and an induction-coil, to the secondary winding of which is connected the switch and the indicator, the primary wind,- ing being in circuitwith a source ofelectricity, at mercury-level, and means for opening and closin the circuit.

5. pparatus for ascertaining the level of liquids, conslsting of a series of contacts at minals, each connected to one o the contacts,

. a switch free to move over the terminals, an

indicator and an induction-coil, to the sec-- ondary winding of which is connected the switch and the indicator, the primary winding havingin its circuit a source of electricity, means for, opening and closing the circuit, a shunt across the terminals of the inductioncoil, and a resistance in the shunt.

6. Apparatus for ascertaining the level of liqu ds, consisting of a series of contacts at different levels, a correspondin series of terminals, each connected to one o the contacts, a switch free to move over the terminals, an indicator and an induction-coil, to the secondaiy winding of which is connected the switch and the indicator, the primary winding having in its circuit a source of electricity, a mercury-level, means for opening and closing the circuit, a shunt across the terminals of the induction-coil, and a resistance in the shunt. i p

' CHARLES MAY. Witnesses:

- RICHARD WESTACOTT,

ALFRED NUT-TING. 

